Colony, Wasilla girls learn from a pro

WASILLA — Even if it’s the same message, sometimes it helps if it is delivered by someone different, especially if that someone is a former professional player and Division I All-American.

Robyn Saarenas, a Division I All-American who helped lead Colorado College to a pair of national tournament runner-up finishes before playing professionally in Japan, spent three days coaching players from the Colony and Wasilla girls soccer programs.

“It’s probably very refreshing just to have a new voice, probably a voice that reiterates what their coach says, but sounds a little differently,” Saarenas said Saturday after the final session of the clinic at the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center in Wasilla.

The long weekend marked the second consecutive year that Saarenas, a prep coach at Auburn Riverside High School in Auburn, Wash., had made the trip to the Mat-Su Valley to coach the clinic. Saarenas came to Alaska with Bruce Benson, a longtime United States Soccer Federation coach who hosts clinics throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, last season. This year, she decided to come on her own.

Colony head coach Lorie Miner has long wanted to bring a coach of Saarenas’ caliber to the Valley to work with local athletes. Miner contacted about a dozen coaches at the college level before finding opportunity with Benson and Saarenas.

“It’s hard for our girls to get recognized,” Miner said. “Most have to travel out of state.”

Miner said the timing of the clinic is ideal. The Colony and Wasilla programs begin the season Tuesday, coincidentally against each other, at The Dome in Anchorage.

“It’s nice to have somebody almost repeat what we’re saying. But it comes from someone else’s perspective,” Miner said. “It helps break up that monotony prior to the first game.”

Miner said her athletes quickly bonded with Saarenas during her first visit to the Valley and was excited to have her back another year. Ideally, Miner would like to see all four Valley girls soccer programs participate in a clinic like this in the future.

Wasilla head coach Amber Craig said her athletes were excited to participate in the clinic for a second straight year. With what looks to be an expensive season ahead — the Warriors will make two trips to the Kenai Peninsula and will have to travel to Juneau if they advance to the state tournament — Craig said she gave her the athletes the choice of whether to take on the cost of the preseason clinic.

“The girls really wanted to do it,” Craig said. “(Last year) they got a lot out of it.”

Craig said the Warriors staged a run-a-thon to raise the money for the clinic. The Warriors took pledges and ran laps on the Wasilla High track.

“We had kids run 10 to 11 miles. Everyone ran at least nine,” Craig said. “They were determined to raise every single dollar for that. They were taking ownership in and got the most out of it.”

Craig said it’s a great opportunity for her athletes to be coached by someone who has had success at high levels of soccer.

“It’s fantastic. She has such a huge knowledge base. Being a former player in this Valley, it’s nice. I wish I had for me,” said Craig, who played for Colony High School. “It’s another coach to give the girls another look at things.”

Saarenas said she tried to help reinforce what the Colony and Wasilla staffs have been coaching their athletes, but took the opportunity to concentrate on the offensive part of the game during the three days of practices.

“The clinic really focussed on some offensive ideas,” Saarenas said. “We really focused on the girls checking into the ball, keeping possession of play, shielding off pressure.”

Saarenas said the local players were very enthusiastic during the sessions.

“The girls here are very coachable,” Saarenas said. “They all bring an energy like they want to learn. They were trying very hard to absorb all of the information.”

Saarenas didn’t rule out making this clinic an annual staple to the local girls soccer season. She said she quickly bonded with the local coaches, Colony assistant Ed Powell and his wife Linda in particular.

“I met these wonderful people, this family. They’re all into soccer,” Saarenas said of the Powells her hosts during her stay in the Valley. “There was an immediate connection. It’s kind of like a family experience. I share that love of soccer with them.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.